Cave of the Frost Dragon MTG Card


Transforms into a potent creature, contributing to board presence without depleting hand resources. Activates at instant speed, adding a surprise element and flexibility in response to combat scenarios. Offers late-game potential by effectively utilizing available mana, making it a resilient choice.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand

Text of card

If you control two or more other lands, Cave of the Frost Dragon enters the battlefield tapped. : Add . : Cave of the Frost Dragon becomes a 3/4 white Dragon creature with flying until end of turn. It's still a land.


Cards like Cave of the Frost Dragon

Cave of the Frost Dragon stands as a unique land card in Magic: The Gathering, providing versatility akin to Faceless Haven. While both are lands capable of transforming into powerful creatures, Cave of the Frost Dragon morphs into a 3/4 Dragon with flying, allowing it to evade ground blockers and influence aerial combat. Faceless Haven, however, shifts into a 4/3 creature with all creature types, potentially interacting with various tribal synergies.

Another card worth mentioning is Mutavault, which, much like Cave of the Frost Dragon, can become a creature. But Mutavault becomes a 2/2 with all creature types without any additional abilities, which lacks the flying advantage. It also presents a lower power and toughness. On the flip side, Mutavault offers the benefit of being able to fit into any deck, given its lack of color-specific mana requirements.

Comparatively, the balance between utility as a land, creature potential, and mana cost are crucial factors that define where Cave of the Frost Dragon lies in the spectrum of similar MTG cards. It adeptly provides strategic depth to decks, particularly in formats where having an additional threat on the land is invaluable.

Faceless Haven - MTG Card versions
Mutavault - MTG Card versions
Faceless Haven - MTG Card versions
Mutavault - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Cave of the Frost Dragon by color, type and mana cost

Plains - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Plains - MTG Card versions
Ruins of Trokair - MTG Card versions
Karoo - MTG Card versions
Drifting Meadow - MTG Card versions
Rustic Clachan - MTG Card versions
Emeria, the Sky Ruin - MTG Card versions
Vivid Meadow - MTG Card versions
Kabira Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Shefet Dunes - MTG Card versions
Makindi Stampede // Makindi Mesas - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo Castle - MTG Card versions
Secluded Steppe - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire - MTG Card versions
Castle Ardenvale - MTG Card versions
Citadel Gate - MTG Card versions
Memorial to Glory - MTG Card versions
Karakas - MTG Card versions
Plains - MTG Card versions
Snow-Covered Plains - MTG Card versions
Ruins of Trokair - MTG Card versions
Karoo - MTG Card versions
Drifting Meadow - MTG Card versions
Rustic Clachan - MTG Card versions
Emeria, the Sky Ruin - MTG Card versions
Vivid Meadow - MTG Card versions
Kabira Crossroads - MTG Card versions
Shefet Dunes - MTG Card versions
Makindi Stampede // Makindi Mesas - MTG Card versions
Emeria's Call // Emeria, Shattered Skyclave - MTG Card versions
Ondu Inversion // Ondu Skyruins - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo Castle - MTG Card versions
Secluded Steppe - MTG Card versions
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire - MTG Card versions
Castle Ardenvale - MTG Card versions
Citadel Gate - MTG Card versions
Memorial to Glory - MTG Card versions
Karakas - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Cave of the Frost Dragon. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White MidrangeMono-White Midrange PioneerMono-White MidrangePioneer League 2024-04-02
Selesnya AngelsSelesnya Angels ExplorerThe Pizza Box Open: Explorer
WGWG PioneerPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-29
Selesnya CompanySelesnya Company PioneerSelesnya CompanyPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-20
Selesnya HumansSelesnya Humans PioneerSelesnya HumansPioneer Challenge 64 2024-04-13
Abzan MidrangeAbzan Midrange ExplorerThe Pizza Box Open: Explorer
Azorius TempoAzorius Tempo GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 14 2024
Esper MidrangeEsper Midrange GladiatorGladiator Proving Grounds: Week 15 2024
Boros MidrangeBoros Midrange PioneerBoros Midrange*HALF PRICE FRIDAY* ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Atlanta - Friday - 2:00 pm
Orzhov AngelsOrzhov Angels GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cave of the Frost Dragon offers flexible utility by transforming into a creature, providing a potential blocker or attacker without requiring you to commit another card from your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of mana acceleration, it contributes to your land count and offers a mana sink late in the game, thus enhancing your resource utilization.

Instant Speed: The ability to become a creature can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to adapt to battlefield conditions in real time and potentially surprise your opponent with an unanticipated blocker or end-of-turn attacker.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Cave of the Frost Dragon doesn’t directly require you to discard, it comes at an opportunity cost. Including it in your deck means possibly foregoing other utility lands that could synergize better with your strategy, potentially leaving you with less optimal plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Activating the ability of Cave of the Frost Dragon requires a significant amount of white mana. This specificity can be challenging in multicolored decks that might struggle to produce enough white mana consistently, thereby hindering the card’s utility in a pinch.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Transforming Cave of the Frost Dragon into a creature comes with a steep total cost of five mana, including four of any color and one white. Considering other available options, this cost is quite high for a 3/4 Dragon creature with flying. This can be especially cumbersome in faster-paced games where mana efficiency is crucial.


Reasons to Include Cave of the Frost Dragon in Your Collection

Versatility: Cave of the Frost Dragon stands out due to its dual utility as a land card and a creature. It provides both mana stability and can become a powerful flying creature, making it useful in various deck builds that require flexibility.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that benefit from creature types, such as Dragon-themed decks or those utilizing abilities that trigger upon creatures entering the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that favors creature-based combat or utility lands, Cave of the Frost Dragon can be a robust addition. Its ability to become a formidable flyer makes it a relevant choice against decks lacking in aerial defense.


How to beat

Cave of the Frost Dragon stands as a formidable land card in Magic: The Gathering. It brings versatility to the battlefield, allowing players to transform mana into a powerful flying dragon at a moment’s notice. Beating this card requires a strategic approach, usually involving land destruction or creature control mechanisms. Cards like Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter can directly target and eliminate the Cave of the Frost Dragon, stripping opponents of their monstrous mana sink.

Additionally, utilizing spells that prevent creatures from attacking or blocking, such as Pacifism or the flash-enabled Spectral Sailor, can paralyze the dragon, effectively rendering it a mere decorative piece on the battlefield. Removal spells like Murder or Frogify can also address the activated dragon directly. These methods circumvent the built-in resilience of lands and directly target the dragon creature itself.

Overall, it’s essential to tailor your strategy to the complexity that Cave of the Frost Dragon introduces. Whether by attacking its land state or mitigating its creature capabilities, there are effective ways to ensure the dragon’s lair remains just a cave.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cave of the Frost Dragon MTG card by a specific set like The List and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Cave of the Frost Dragon and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cave of the Frost Dragon Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-09-26The ListPLST AFR-2532015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
22021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 253p2015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
32021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 3502015NormalBlackLarry Elmore
42021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 2532015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
52021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 253s2015NormalBlackJohannes Voss
62021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 253a2015NormalBlackJohannes Voss

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cave of the Frost Dragon has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cave of the Frost Dragon card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-07-23 If Cave of the Frost Dragon enters the battlefield at the same time as one or more other lands, it doesn't take those lands into consideration when determining how many other lands you control.
2021-07-23 If you turn Cave of the Frost Dragon into a creature but haven't controlled it continuously since your most recent turn began, you won't be able to activate its mana ability or attack with it.